Now that it is 2014, many safety groups are wondering if traffic safety improved at all last year, specifically regarding fatal accidents. Good news: a new report shows that there were fewer fatal car accidents in the United States last year, according to early estimates.
In Ohio, estimates show that there were 982 motorist and pedestrian fatalities last year. That is the lowest number of traffic deaths for the state since 1936 when the state started to keep track. Statistics on the national traffic fatalities has not been released. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that the first half of 2013 had fewer traffic fatalities compared to 2012.
One reason for the decline in fatal car accidents in Ohio could be due to more motorists buckling up as well as fewer fatal drunk driving accidents being reported, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Another possible reason for the decline could be due to better safety standards in new vehicles on the road. When you put together safer vehicles and more people wearing their seat belts, the risk of being in a fatal car accident should decrease.
In addition to traffic fatalities decreasing in Ohio, fatal accidents involving teen drivers are less likely to happen, according to the AAA. They reported that between 2011 and 2012, fatal accidents involving those between 10 and 15 declined by almost 4 percent, and the numbers of teens who were killed in car accidents decreased by 5.7 percent.
The decline in fatal car accidents is good news, but safety advocates say there is still more work to be done to improve traffic safety in Ohio and throughout the country in the next couple of years to keep reducing fatalities.
Source: The Washington Post, “Early figures suggest number of traffic fatalities fell in 2013,” Reid Wilson, Jan. 2, 2014